Nothing says unreliable like somebody who takes on a job knowing full well that there's a deadline for the articles to be delivered by - and missing it. Set yourself some helpful targets. When I take on freelance writing, I always set my own deadline to be two days before the client's deadline (where possible). This keeps me on top of things.

2. Don't fluff your articles with meaningless content!

When the client says they want 500 words on a particular topic, they mean that topic! I asked for a 500 word article on a specific computer hardware related problem and got 300 words of tripe about the impact that personal desktops have had on the home before the real issue was even mentioned! Think of the reader, and get to the point.

3. For the love of god, proof read.

It doesn't take long and it'll turn your article from a shoddy hack-job that the buyer will have to spend time editing, to something that he can copy and paste as he needs. If I find an error in my purchased content, I'm obligated to read the rest of the piece and scan meticulously for other mistakes. On a mass scale, this is - for lack of a better term - enough to make me want to chomp off your balls.

4. Respond to emails if you're being chased up.

If I assign ten articles to somebody to complete within a week, and it gets close to the end of that week, I will normally email to ensure that everything is running to plan - especially with newer writers. If you get an email from the buyer, respond to it as soon as you can. Don't wait until the last possible window to send all your work. There's a great possibility the buyer will already be scrambling to re-distribute it to somebody who he knows can get it from with his own deadlines drawing in. To clarify: be easy to contact.

5. Write to the buyers needs.

This isn't always obvious, but it'll get you a hell of a lot more work if you do it well. It's important that you pitch your writing in the way that the buyer is looking to present it. For example, if you're writing reviews for a product, it's pretty likely that he's going to want them to be positive and urging the reader to an action point (follow an affiliate link, whatever). make every effort to understand what is being asked of you and don't be afraid to ask question

19 May, 2009, 12:48 PM

akira07

Thanks for the tips. Agree with point no.1 but don't need to forced your article finished too fast in way to delivery it before the deadline. Just like you mean in point no.2, that we need make meaningfull article. So, when it's need a time to write it, don't force yourself to finish it quickly because it will affecting the quality of it content.

Add more tips :

Think yourself as a reader
If you a reader, what do you want to read and get from an article? That's writer should give.

22 May, 2009, 16:38 PM

shinhw4_girl

wow.... i think this tips can help me a lot.... ^^

i agree about no 1 & 5.... we must know what buyer want :D

25 May, 2009, 10:22 AM

CoreyFreeman

Number four is ridiculously important. I cannot tell you how irritated I get when there are large gaps (10 hours+) in communications with a client through a business day. You definitely have to respond quickly and effectively.

Ok guys since original link already added, can we start the disscusion again?

About point no.4, of course your quickly respond is needed. But sometime, there is an annoying buyer that so impatient which e-mail you to asking the progress every 3 hour or even a hour. It's so annoying and disturb us while writing their order.

In we not reply it, i'm sure you will get more e-mail which sound "Hey why don't read my prev.mail? Please reply ASAP".
How to solve this? We wanna become good writter but sometime because this case, we're become emotional to the buyer and in the end, buyer is unsatisfied and leave to use our service

26 May, 2009, 02:20 AM

Nic SEO

The discussion never stopped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by akira07

About point no.4, of course your quickly respond is needed. But sometime, there is an annoying buyer that so impatient which e-mail you to asking the progress every 3 hour or even a hour. It's so annoying and disturb us while writing their order.

In we not reply it, i'm sure you will get more e-mail which sound "Hey why don't read my prev.mail? Please reply ASAP".
How to solve this? We wanna become good writter but sometime because this case, we're become emotional to the buyer and in the end, buyer is unsatisfied and leave to use our service

Did it ever happened to you (I mean were you hired to write an article at all)?

If the guys paying you to get a job done, he has the right to ask if you are done or not. If he keeps emailing you every minute, try to establish a clear deadline (together!) and he will probably stop to bug you.

26 May, 2009, 10:08 AM

CoreyFreeman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic SEO

The discussion never stopped.

Did it ever happened to you (I mean were you hired to write an article at all)?

If the guys paying you to get a job done, he has the right to ask if you are done or not. If he keeps emailing you every minute, try to establish a clear deadline (together!) and he will probably stop to bug you.

Still, frequent communication is a serious impediment. I know from a personal experience. Quick story (regarding design, but the principle is the same)

A client of mine asked me to take on a design for a shop, gave me a deadline, and we got to work. I sent him questions and he would reply within HUGE time gaps (we're talking 10 hours). Then when I didn't respond quickly enough, he would become angry. (I had school, and you have to take into account timezones). Eventually there was a fallout, to which the client accused me of poor customer service and "graphic wizardry" (O.o). COMMUNICATION IS KEY. Seriously, ...graphic wizardy?

I give no names, but the guy removed my design off the final site for a free template that looks pretty crappy, so I'm not going to complain. Nor am I complaining about the lack of his other two jobs. Another quick tip: YOU DO NOT NEED EVERY JOB. Some people are jerks. That's why we quit.